Torque responsive washing machine



April 14, 1953 R. G. oLsoN ToRQuE RESPONSIVE WASHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 2, 1948 Hann- April 14, 1953 R. G. OLSON 2,634,595

TORQUE RESPONSIVE WASHIG'MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Apri 14, 1953 R. G. oLsoN TORQUE RESPONSIVE WASHING MACHINE s sheets-shed :s

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Filed Oct. 2, 1948 Patented Apr. 14, 1953 TUEQUE RESPONSIVE WSHING'. MACHINE Raymond' G.A Olson; Niles, 1112, assigner ofi ener-f third to Kennethv T. SnowpOal Park'rlll'..

Applica-tion October 2, 1948,.SerialNo.,52151105 1 This invention relateslto. ai newand` improved torque responsive washing machine.

'There are numerous washing machines on the market designed to carry through an entire cy'- cle. of washing, rinsing and drying operations without. anyone attending the machine. This cycle. of.A operations requires" numerous electrical' and mechanical controls, making' the machine quite costly andsubjectto" numeroushrea'kdowns. anormal cycle ofwa'shing operationsn or.r at least a cycle considered desirable' by numerous wash ing machine companies', includes an initialY washing, hy. a-.spi'nning of the tub ata relatively slow speed with aV pre-determinedY quantity' of hot, soapy water in. the tub.. The second operation or step in the cycle, of. operations is the draining ofthe hot. soapy water, and the spinningy of the tub at' a; considerablyl higher speed to cen'- trifugall'y throw the soapy water outwardly from the tub.. The next-step includes theentering of rinse water andy the resumption of'I rotation of the. tub at the slower washing speed, The next successive steps include a repeating of spin. dry'- in'g and rinsingy for several' rinses. The nal drying includes a spinning of the tub atV ahigh speedtosubstantially drive out allofthe water from the clothes or articles .beingwashedl Very complextiming` mechanisms n'icludingD electrical solenoids. and complicated 'gearing arrangements have been required'. to. accomplish. this'A desired cycle of. washing operations.`

It is aprincipal ohject` oflthis invention to dispense. withnumerouselectrical controls. andlwith certain. portions of' the mechanical gearing, and

yet aocomplishthe desired cycle of.` washing operations. f

An.y important object oi" this invention. is. the provision. of a. device responsive to the torque load of. the tub. or. washing basket to eiect the driving of the tub at a low speed when the4 traque load is high and. at a high speed whenthe torque load. is low.y

Anotherv important, object of' this invention is to provide a washing. machine withmeansthere.- inresponsive to draining ofthe water from. the washingtub. to effect a change from aslow wash..- ing. speed to. a high drying speed of, rotation of the washing machine tulo.`

A. still further important object of this invention isfto supplyl a washingA machine capable of completing ar cycle. of. Washing. operations including washing, drying,.rinsing, and drying with a minimum ofy electrical.and-mechanical. controls and; inluoin a torque responsive device for automatically shifting the speed of rotation 1" Claim'. (C1. GSL-24') l of I the` washing` macli'ne tub from aE slow washingspeed'to. arhighv drying speed when thel wash waterh is. drained, and; converselywhen the water for. rinsing thewash is put into theltub; the

f tub automatically decreases its speed to` compensate for the torque added loy` the waterV load;

Another' and stillv furtherimportant' object of thisinvention isto'provid'e ai iiuidcoupling arrangedland; constructed to automatically' rotate a: washing. machinev basket tub-at at slow speed forfwashing operations and'to automatically increasesp'eed' of4 rotation of'A the tub to a consideralolyy higher: speed to. ei'ect a; drying operation, and to automatically shift" from` onevr driving speed to'tl'ieotheninv direct response to the water lcadl imposed@ on the washing machine tulo.

A stilli further. importantobject of: this inventi'onis` to provide a planetary gear system adapted" for: drivingh aV washing; machine tub` in eitherv a; slow' or. high speed; and havingV mea-ns for' shifting* from one.' speed'A to the other speed responsiveltoi the torque load of the washing machine tub.

Other`Y and further. important objects of' this invention' willhecomejpapparent from the disclosures in'ther'following specicati'on, andY accompanying drawings.

In the drawingszY Figure I isa: perspective View or" ak washing machine" of theitype employing the torque` responsive mechanism of: this: invention.

Figure Zisarear elevational'view of the washing machine asl shown inFigure 1.

FigureA 3.' is a sectional" View taken on the line 3-3. of. Figure. 2.'.n Figure 41's. awiring diagram partially in schematic. form showing, the electrical mechanisms in the. washing machine of this invention.

.Fig'ureis' a sectional detailvi'ew taken'on the line 5 5 ofFigure. 2;v

` Figure 6`is a view similar to that'-v of Figure 5 partially in sectionofa modified form off torque responsive.device.

Figure 7,Vis: an. enlarged detail) view partially in sectionfofja portion ofthe deviceV as shown in Figure 3l y i Figure 8 is a front. elevational View ofthe devicel asshown in Figure 7.. As shown i'n. the. drawings:

v The. .reference numeral.V lll, indicates. generally ha. supporting structure or washing machine 5015. .lflla .door Mhingedfat, IS'on'the. front panel ing the door in a cl's'ed" position.

As best shown in Figure 2 the housing or supporting structure I is equipped with a cradlelike carrying structure I1 having upwardly and inwardly inclined legs I8 and concave adjoining member I9 for supporting the inner housing 20 of the Washing machine. The housing or tub 20 is a watertight compartment and access to this tub is gained through the front door I4 through which the clothes to be Washed are inserted and removed. The tub 20 is cylindrical in shape and carries an inner perforate tub or basket 2l journally mounted therewithin for driven rotation. The cylindrical tub 20 is fixedly mounted With respect to the housing or supporting structure I0 on a generally horizontal axis and has no movement with respect thereto.

I'he basket 2| is also cylindrical in shape and Y has perforations 22 over the full annular surface thereof. The bracket 2| rotates within the tub 20 and by so doing sufficiently agitates the clothes therewithin to eiect a Washing thereof. The rigid fastening of the tub 20 to the housing I0 is accomplished by riveting or other fastening means at 23 on the front panel I2 of the cabinet. Legs 24 and 24a bolted to the bottom of the cabinet at 24h space the tub a fixed vdistance above the base of the supporting structure and further support the tub.

A source of power inthe form of an electric motor 25 is mounted on the base II within the housing I6. The motor 25 is .mounted rigidly with the supporting structure and is, disposed 1n a manner in which the driving shaft extends in a direction from the front to the rear of the cabinet 4I 6. This motor driving shaft is designated by the numeral 26 and carries a V-belt pulley or the like 21 which Vby means of a V-belt 28 imparts rotational drive to a V-belt pulley 29 carried on the shaft 33. The shaft 30 is journally mounted on a bracket 3| bolted at 32 to the tub supporting leg 24. A second V-belt vpulley 33 is mounted and fixed on the shaft 30 and carries a V-belt 34 extending upwardly to a large V-belt pulley 35 as' best shown in Figure 5. The pulleyr35 is mounted on and attached to a shaft 36 which is supported at one end in an aperture 31 ina cross support or brace 38 extending `between the sides 39 and 40 of the cabinet or supporting structurel. The aperture 31 acts as a bearing support for the shaft 36. An end thrust-nut 42 holds the pulley in position on the shaft 36. The Vshaft 36 is thus rotatably .drivenat a constant high rate of speed from the motor 25.

A pin 43 passes through the shaft 36 and through a hub 44 of a turbine-like rotor or vane member 45. circumferentially spaced around the periphery of the rotor 45. The rotor 45 is thus driven at a 4constant high `rate of speed from the motor 25.

lwardly extending peripheral flanges 48a and 49a yat ,56.V I nwardly projecting non-driven blades or K bucket members I are mounted rigidly with re-V spect tothe portion 46 of the housing ofthe uid 'coupling 46 at circumferentially spaced intervals therearound. A xed amount of fluid within the housing 46 tends to impart drive from the opposhousing 41 to rotate therewith. The inner end of theshaft 36 is journalled for free .rotation A plurality of plates or vanes are 1'0 ing vanes of the rotating turbine member 45 to "li Vthe stationary baiiles Yor vanes 5I and cause the 4 hub 52 extends laterally and is itself journally carried for rotation within an opening 53 in the rear end of the tub 26. The opening has press tted therein a circular sleeve bearing 53a. A reduced diameter end portion of the hub 52 forms a shoulder 54 which permits a flush reception of the sleeve bearing 53a. This flush engagement of the bearing and the hub is conducive to effect the necessary liquid tight seal that must exist at the tub opening 5.3. A lateral extension 55 of the hub 52 is threadedly attached to a stub shaft 56 projecting rearwardly from the inner perforate washing basket 2I.Y The stub shaft 56 is carried on a reinforcing bracket 51 which is in turn riveted or otherwiseattached to the basket 2I at 58. It will thus be seen that as the motor 25 is driven, the basket 2I is also rotatably driven through the iiuid coupling 46 in the manner just described.

The stationary tub 26 is provided with a sump 59 at. the bottom thereof and is equipped with a drain 66. A pump 6I is directly attached to the drain 66 and acts to pull the water, either washing or rinse water, from the tub 20 out through the sump for -discharge from the washing machine. The pump 6l is of the rotor type and is driven by the motor 25 through a V-pulley 62 mounted on the other end of the shaft 26. A V-belt 63 joins the V-pulley 62 with a V-pulley 64 which is mounted Ona shaft 65 of the rotor pump 6I. Inasmuch as it is not desired to run the vpump 6I continuously, means is provided for effecting operation only at the times when it is desired to drain the washing machine tub 20 of its Water content. Included in the means for driving the pump at only predetermined desired intervals is an electric solenoid 66 energized by cycle timing means to eiect driving engagement between the motor shaft 26 and the V-pulley 62. The details of this mechanism are more fully shown in Figures 7 and 8. The outer end of the shaft 26 is splined as indicated at 61. This spline slidingly receives an internally splined clutch member 68. The pulley S2 is journalled for free rotation 'Von and over the shaft 26. A clutch member lis integrally associated with the pulley 62 and rotates therewith. A collar 10 mounted on the shaft 26 prevents endwise movement of the pulley 62 in that direction. The clutch members 68 and 69 as shown in Figure 7 are in cooperative driving engagement and in this position the moto-r shaft 26 directly drives lthe clutch member 66 through the spline 61 and thus causes rotational drive of the cooperative clutch memberV 69 and thus also the V-pulley 62. The clutch member 68 is provided with an integral annular groovefII, for engagement by a shifter fork 12 which is .suspended from the bottom of the stationary tub 20 by means of a hinge 13. A piston 14 operatively reciprocated by the solenoid 66 is pivotallyattached at 15 to the shifting fork 12 and thus it will be seen that when the solenoid is notenergized the piston 14 and thus the shifting fork Willbe extended and theclutch member vt8 will be moved laterally away from the clutch member 69 causing disengagement ofthe driving means between themotor shaft 26 andthe v-puliey s2. In this letter described position the pump 6Iv is Vnot driven and the wateris not Withdrawn from the tub 20. This type of clutch is merely one of many that may be employed for this job. A mixing valve 16 is carried on the supporting structure at the rear of the cylindrical tub 20. The mixing valve isgfed by a hot waiter inlet 11 'within a hub 52 of the housing portionY 48. This f5 and' a Coldwater inlet*` T8 directly froml house water lines. An outlet 279 fis provided from the mixing valve 1B :and is ladapted to discharge lat `8|! `on fthe'top of the washing tub A2l) as indicated in Figure 2. The mixing valve 1l@ is controlled by solenoids 16a and 1Gb which act to admit hot `and coid water 'respectively 'when they are .electrically actuated.

Asbest shown in Figure 4 the fcyc'le of washing `operationsis controlled byelectrical means'which will now be described. The wiring diagram .of Figure-4 Ishows the imposing l.of line voltage vat 8| tothecircuit. A cam 82 fis'mountedona shaft .83 and :upon rotation in a clockwise direction causes :a switch :84 to be :closed and the circuit 'to vthe 4motor 25 completed causingoperation 'oi'theJmo- `tor. Means '(not shown) vis vprovided between V:the motor and the :shaft 8'3 to effect continuous slow rotation of the .shaft 8.3 'so that `one revolution 'Ithereof denotes r:a'full'washing cycle. When the 82 .resumes its 'positionyas shownin Figure 4 the motor 25 will .be stopped. An alternate means of driving the shaft83 would be .by 'a 'separate synchronous motor such as used'in electric clocks. A second cam 185 isrnounted on thetshaft l83 and .rotates therewith adjacent the cam 82.

The peripheral 'contour yof the cam 85 .is arranged and fconstructedto carry outfall the other operations vin .the :full 'cycle lof washing operations. It .should be noted'that any number 'of cams may be vemployed to effect `the operation of :any '.part or parts ofthe washing cycle.

v`The `cam 85 moves in a clockwise direction Vas .indicated by the arrow 8.6 andsimilarto the rota- --tion .of the cam 82. The rst segment of the cam .85 designated by the numeral 87 causes "an .upward :swinging of the contact Aarm 88 complet Jing the `circuit between the ,line voltage and the fmixing'valvesolenoid Haior energizng the solenoid and thus admits hot water to the washing machine tub 29. In order to accomplish this re ysulta contact :point 89'of'theiarn'1 88.movesup wardly into engagement with la contact 90 of the V:hin-ged arm 9|.

The second segment 92 `of the cam 85 causes continued upward -movement of the contact. arm 8.8 thus forcing the vhinged arm 9| upwardly so that its integral contact 93 will engage a'contact 94 Von an arm 95 which joins the line .voltage'with .the mixing valve solenoid 16o to effect entering rand mixing of lcold water with the hot water. L

,sists of a bleed tube |.2.| ifromthemixing valve 'I6 tto meter a certain proportion ci incoming Water .iorllinga tube |22. A oat (notshown) in the tube |22.hasfa Verticallyclisposedrod |2'3ior'controlling the how of water from thernixing valve `.to the washing tub and thus when the water in the tube |22 reaches a predetermined level the Water in the tub has also reached the desired washing or .rinsing level and the oat acts through its rod |23 -to turn the flow of Vwater oi .regardless of Whether .the cam 85 pcalls for con'- tinued lling. A conduit 22a joins the bottom-of 'the :tube A|22 to the .tub 20 and thus when .the tub drained the "tube `|22 -is `also drained permititingthe tube .to act in a succeedingwashing.

Continued .rotationoi the cam 85 moves it vto the third segment vvthereof designated by the numeral 93a. This cam segment 93a is coincident With the Washing or rinsing operation of this 'Washing machine. .The segment .93a vso shaped :asto Vplace the contact arm 38 linztheipostion as 6 indicatedin'Figure 4 wherein neither'hotznor noid water is 'running'. nor is the pump 6| .drawing water from the tub.

Subsequent to the .washing period it fis .desired to remove the Water from the tub '20 .and this 'is accomplished in 'the fourth segment 94a .of the cam 85 during whichtime the contact farm 88 Lis permitted to drop with ythe result that ythe contact Vpoint 89a lintegral with 'the lbottom fof the arm BE engages'the-contact 9B on thearm F91 thus completing the electrical circuit `from `the line voltage to the pump-solenoid 66 Aand as 'previously described, actuation fof the solenoid 68B eiects driving rotation of the V-'pulley 262 by the Emotor 25. Tlie'pun'ip 65| then draws the water 'from' the tub '20 through the vsump 59 and thereupon :disycharges it through the pipe '9'8 indicated in 'both of Figures 2 'and 3.

Following the discharge of water 'from the tub it is the next cycle oi washing operation to spin the clothes wash lin theperforate rotatableibas'lret v2| to eiiect removal, by centrifugal force, ofthe Water therein. vThis last shown segment of washing operations is indicated by the Ynumeral `'99 on the rcam 85. In this position vthe status of the several elements is similar to that of the washing operation wherein 'water is neither put ininor taken out. It should be understood that the pump '66 continues to run through the spin dry-to remove the water from theimachine-a's it lis drawn lfrom the. clothes.

Upon completion of a full 'revolution "of "the shaft 83 the'motor 25 turns ofi and thus -thecycle of operations is nished. It -is to -be `further understood -that this Ycycle of .operations m-a-y'be more or less enlarged depending'uponwhetheror not 'rinsing 'is desired. 'Thecam '-85 may be made with the proper contour to eiect any number of washings, rinsings, and spin dryings in anyone cycle of operations. However, -in the 4present instance in view Yof the fact that the invention relates only to the vtorque `responsive means in association with a washingmachine it is deemed not necessary to maire lthe 'cycle oi operations more complex.

In all of the present day washing machines :complicated gearing is ia necessity for changing the speed of rotation of the 'basket tub 122| from a slow washing speed :during the washing cycle .to'a high `'spin drying speed for "thecentrifugal `extrusionof the water from the clothes. .Iniaddition to the complex gearing, complicatedmechanisrnfs 'for eiecting a shifting of that gearing from one speed to another is necessary. As previously stated itis an importantobjectl of this `invention to provide an r.automatic changing yo1 the speed of the washing basket k2| vfrom a slow washing speed to la high drying speed merely upon draining of the Water from the tub 2U `within `which :the periorate wash basket .is Arotatably 'mounted As best .shown in Figure 2, ithewashing I .level of the water `within the tub `2|) `is indicated by the numeral li. This level vof waterremains inthe tub-during the full movementfof the-cam through its segment 93a. The resistance or 'torque load of 'the basket 2| is considerably ygreater with the water in the vtub 2E 'than when the tub has no water and it is -on this'principle that the washing machine of this invention 'oper-y ates. The vvaries or `plates of the uid coupling |09 theplates 5| and .thus the 'housing dicontinuously slip and are never brought up to the speed of rotation of the driven vanes 45. When, however, the torque load is reduced by the draining of the water from the tub 20 the plates `5| are easily brought up to the speed of rotation of the moving vanes 45 thus causing direct and full speed drive of the perforate basket 2|.

The nuid coupling 46 is therefore a natural torque responsive device which may be arranged and constructed with proper spacing to provide a slow speed on one torque load and a considerably higher speed on a reduced torque load. The shifting of one speed of rotation of the washing basket 2| to another speed of rotation is automatically accomplished by means responsive solely to the level of the water within the washing tub 20. When water is in the tub, whether it be wash or rinse water, it is desirable to rotate the tub at a relatively slow speed in order to be effective in washing or rinsing of clothes therein, and conversely when there is no water in the tub it is desirable to spin dry the clothes at a high speed Vof rotation. By means of the fluid coupling torque responsive device the perforate basket tub 2| is driven at the desirable speed automatically in any position of the cycle thereof.

As best shown in Figure 6 a modified form of torque responsive means is shown. In lieu of the fluid coupling a planetary gearing is employed which is adapted upon change in torque load to eiect a change in output speed. A sun gear I0| is journally mounted on the shaft 36 and is driven by the shaft through the means of a pin |02 extending radially outwardly through an inclined or helically extending slot |03 in an annular surface of a hub |04 of the sun gear. The planet carrier |05 is also journalled on the shaft 36. Longitudinally operable clutch means |06 in the form of a coil spring is positioned between the sun gear and the planet carrier within annular grooves |01 and |08 in the sunl gear and planet .carrier respectively and positioned adjacent the shaft 36. The planet carrier |05 carries planet gears |09 which are engaged with the sun gear |0|. The gears |09 are mounted on short shaft members H0 which in turn are mounted in a spider portion of the planet carrier |05. An outer Aring gear I Il is concentric with the sun gear |0| and is in geared engagement with the planets |09. A supporting structure ||2 carries the outer ring gear i on a journal support mounted over the shaft 36 and between the cross or brace member 38. The structure ||2 is provided with a sleeve-like extension ||3 which is directly :mounted on the shaft 36 for separate rotation. A 'one-way brake H4 ispositioned over the sleeve hub |13 of the supporting structure l2 and within a circular aperture ||5 within the cross brace vmember 30. The brace member 3B is stationary with the supporting structure I0 and thus the pone-way brake permits rotation of the ring gear carrying structure H2 in one direction but bars `rotation in the other direction.

In operation as the shaft 36 is driven, drive is imparted to the sun gear |0| through the shaft pin |02 and helical or spiral slot |03 in the sun gear.

8 basket member 2| by means of bolts I8 extending through a ange or spider member |9 of the hub ||'I. It will thus be seen that the basket 2| is capable of being driven through the planetary gearing directly from the sun gear to the planet carrier to the basket. However, this drive is only accomplished when the torque load is sufficiently light to permit the sun gear to remain in closely adjacent contact with the planet carrier. When the torque load is increased by applying water to the tub 20 the sun gear |0| tends to back up against the action of the spring |6 causing the pin |02 to move to the inner end of the helical shaped slot |03. In this position the clutch |06 has released its engagement of the sun gear and planet carrier and the driving of the planet carrier is accomplished indirectly through the planet gears |09. It is obvious that upon an application of a greater torque load the speed of rotation of the output is considerably less than the direct speed of rotation obtained on a light torque load. When the sun gear is directly engaged with the planet carrier |05 through the clutch |05 it is essential that the outer ring gear be permitted free rotation in the same direction so that the rotational drive from the shaft 36 to the basket 2| may be accomplished with the entire planetary gearing rotating as a' single unit. However, when the planet carrier is driven by the planet gears |09 it is essential that the outer ring gear which tends to rotate in the opposite direction be held stationary in order that the rotational power may not be dissipated therethrough. The one-way brake ||4 is arranged and constructed so that it provides the necessary reactance for the planet carrier when that carrier is driven by the planet gears and also permits free rotation of the ring gear when the basket drive is one to one.

In operation of the washing machine with any type of torque responsive device it should be understood that when the motor is initially turned on the washing machine with a load of clothes and no water will go into a fast spin. This is advantageous as it tends to fluff 'the clothes and evenly distributethem in the tub before the tub is filled with wash water. Bunch'- ing and matting of clothes in the wash tub is thus minimized. As water is fed to the washing machine tub the basket automatically reduces its 'speed of rotation. Balance of the wash 'basket is properly maintained. Should there exist anexcessive unbalancing of 'the basket whether with or without water the torque load is suciently increased so the basket cannot go into a fast spin. There is thus much less danger ofl damage being caused to the machine by such an unbalancing as in ordinary washing machines because of this automatic operation.

It will thus be seen that the washing machine of this invention whether employing the uid coupling or the planetary transmission will effectively operate in response to the torque load 'dependent on water in the washing machine tub to either drive the tub at a slow washing speed or a fast spin drying speed.

Numerous details of construction may be varied over a wide range Without departing from the principles disclosed herein and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A washing machine comprising a supportin framework, a cylindrical water-tight tub rfixed to said supporting framework and disposed on a generally horizontal axis, a cylindrically shaped perforated basket slightly smaller than said tub and journally mounted on a generally horizontal axis for rotation within said tub, a fluid coupling including a Huid-tight disc shaped housing having circumferentially spaced stationary plates projecting inwardly within said housing, said housing attached to said basket. a rotor having circumferentially spaced plates fastened thereto, said rotor disposed within said disc shaped housing and the plates thereof opposing the inwardly projecting plates of said housing and spaced a substantial distance apart, a fixed quantity of fluid within said disc shaped housing, means for rotating said rotor at a substantially constant high speed, means for supplying Water to said tub, said tub having a water drain, means for controlling the opening and closing of said Water drain, means for operating said means to cause drainage of water from said tub, cycle timer means arranged and constructed to actuate the means for operating said means, whereby when the tub contains water the substantial axial spacing of the rotor and housing of the fluid References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 471,541 Foster Mar. 29, 1892 1,993,988 Barrett Mar. 12, 1935 2,041,293 Koon May 19, 1936 2,259,437 Dean Oct. 21,` 1941 2,352,363 Bassett, Jr June 27, 1944 2,357,909 Ridge Sept. 12, 1944 2,380,595 Hertrich July 31, 1945 2,399,319 Bowen et al Apr. 30, 1946 2,538,246 Holm-Hansen Jan. 16, 1951 

